Mark Haddad withstood a loss-side challenge from Joey Gray in the finals to go undefeated in the One-Pocket event of the Midwest 9-Ball Tour stop on the weekend of February 23-26. The $500-added, One-Pocket event drew 55 entrants to Shooters in Olathe, KS. Still ongoing, as of early Sunday evening, were a 9-ball and ladies event.
From among the winners' side final four, Haddad sent Taylor Anderson west 3-1, as Shane McMinn was downing Gary Lutman 3-1. Lutman had just sent Gray over 3-1. Haddad got into the hot seat with a double hill win over McMinn and waited on Gray.
Following victories over Justin Richardson and John Gabriel, both double hill, Gray met up with Anderson. Lutman drew Chip Compton, who'd shut out James Baraks and defeated Dale Pence 3-1. A quarterfinal Lutman/Gray re-match was avoided when Gray chalked up his third straight double hill win, against Anderson, but Compton eliminated Lutman 3-1. Gray then recorded his fourth straight double hill win with a quarterfinal victory over Compton.
Gray, seemingly tired of dodging 'double hill' bullets, shut McMinn out in the semifinals. Haddad, though, turned the tables on him, shutting Gray out in the opening set of the finals, to complete his undefeated run.
